This page to be updated on a regular basis *************************************************************** Wirral Way History The Wirral Way is an integral part of Wirral Country Park and extends from West Kirby in the north to Hooton Station in the south and is located on the route of an old single-track railway line, some 12 miles in length. The Birkenhead Railway Company was jointly owned by The Great Western Railway Company (GWR) and The London & North West Railway Company (LNWR) who opened a branch line from Hooton to Parkgate on the 1st October 1866, incorporating a station at Hadlow Road, Willaston. A further extension was opened between Parkgate and West Kirby some 20 years later in 1886. This later extension included stations at, Caldy. Thurstaston Gayton and Neston. Shortly after the First World War in 1918 the railway slowly became uneconomical to run and in particular the closure of Neston Colliery in 1922 seriously affected its viability and as a result, its ultimate fate was sealed. However the line remained open, serving the local community, including day trippers to Parkgate and West Kirby but principally serving the agricultural community in the distribution of milk, livestock and foodstuffs, nonetheless on the 15th of September 1956 the decision was taken to close the line to passenger traffic and limit its use to freight only. This position existed until the last train left West Kirby on the 7th May 1962 when a year later the line closed. Between the facility closing in 1963 and the council showing interest in its development in 1967 the line, its surrounding areas and buildings remained derelict. Development plans were placed before The Countryside Commission and under a new Act the scheme was approved and grant aid awarded allowing the project to commence construction operations in 1969 resulting in the very first Country Park in Britain, ceremoniously opened by Lord Leverhulme in 1973. Today the Park is managed jointly between the Wirral Metropolitan Borough Council and Chester & Cheshire West County Council, the former responsible for the management and maintenance between West Kirby and Gayton and the later from Hooton to Gayton. Thurstaston Visitor Centre is the hub of the park management, forming a base for the Park Rangers together with a café and retail/display outlet, which are open every day throughout the year (except on Christmas Day) subject to variation. The Walk provides magnificent views across the Dee Estuary extending on to the Clwydian Hills and Moel Famau in particular and frequently to amazing sunsets can be viewed across the Irish Sea. The walker will experience many examples of fauna and numerous species of birds coupled with the natural habitats of foxes, badgers and wild life in general.